本字幕由TME AI技术生成
喔耶耶耶喔
Welcome back everybody to the deep dive
This time we're going deep on something
I think a lot of us can relate to reading
But we're not just talking about reading anything we're talking about the kind of deep reading we do with fiction right and to guide our deep dive
We're using a fascinating article called how reading a good novel improves brain functioning eq and well being by ry williams
That's right
It's on medium
对
And honestly we found some really cool stuff in this article
You might even be a little surprised by some of the things
We learned about how reading fiction affects well everything
Yeah
I was surprised too like there's so much research out there
There really shows that readreadfiction is good for us in a bunch of ways
It's not just bad entertainment
Yeah
It's definitely not just entertainment
And that's what's so cool about it
But not tually their article starts off by pointing out something that's kind of well
It's a little bit concerning
Oh
It's a declintrenrenin reading ing tion ment
And it's particular ally noticeable among younger people
I get it though right there's so much vying for our attention
These days like everyone's constantly bombarded with content from every direction right you get social media streaming services
Video games
It's like this never ending stream of stuff like like censory overload
Sometimes it really is
And i think that definitely plays a role
That kind of fewer people are picking up novels
Yeah
And the article actually brought up some mbers from twenty
Twenty seventeen
That kind ilillustrate
Oh
Interesting adult non fix tion brought in six point one eight billion dollars in revenue adult fiction on the other hand earned four point three billion
It's a pretty big difference
Yeah
It's pretty significant i mean i love a good non fiction book as much as the next person
But thethere's something special about getting lost in a good story you know
And the article actually suggest that part of this trend tored less fiction reading could be tied to how we're reading these days like with all the digital devices stuff
You mean like reading on our phones and tablets and computers
Exactly it's a totally different experience than sitting down with the physical book
And we're doing it constantly all day long it seems like scrolling through articles checking emails
Catching up on social media
So there our brains are always in this mode of skiming and scanning
It's like we're always looking for the next bit of information
The next quick hit of dopamine
And that can actually have an impact on how well we retain information
Especially
When comes es longer more coming flex material
There are some research by virginia clinton
That suggests reading on paper might actually be better for remembering what you read
Especially with non infection interesting
You mean like actually holding a physical book helps us absorbed the information better
That's the idea um
And there's this experiment reported in the guardian
That tested book
They had people read a short story
Someon a kindle in some one an actual book
And the people who read the physical book remembered more details about the plot uh
See i love my eri'i've got admit
But now i'm wondering
If that's affecting how i process what i read
It's definitely something to think about
But you know the article goes deeper into this idea of different reading styles
Oh
Okay tell me more about that
Well
It talks about deep reading
Versus
Superficial reading
Okay that makes sense like i'm guessing deep reading is more like exwhat do when we're really egrosed in a novel
Exactly tly that slow exmersive reflective reading style
That really pulls you into the narrow
It ff yeah like when you completely lose track of time
Because you're so absorbed in the story totally
And that's contracted with superficial reading
Which is more characteristic of how we denthe consume information online
You know skiming
Scanning
Jumping from one thing to the next
It's like our attention spans are getting shorter
Shorter
Yeah
But okay
So the article is saying that debreeding the kind we usually do with fiction that's what's really good for us
That's what the research suggests
It seems like the type of deep reading we do with fiction has a bunch of benefits for our brains
It allows us to slow down immerse ourselves in the narrative and really connect with the material on a deeper level
It lets our minds
Kind of wandder and explore ideas in a more relaxed and reflective way
It makes sense me like
Like i definitely those uh ha moments while reading a nol l where something a character experiences or a particular passage suddenly helps me see something experimy own life in a new way
Ah the most like fiction provides this safe space to explore different respective way in emotions that's a good point
It's like a way to step outside of our own heads for a while and see the world or someone else's eyes
And maybe in doing that we learn something about ourselves too exactly
And that sense of safety it's important
Because it lets us grab le with complex theens and challenging ideas without feeling overwhelmed rethread
But the cool thing is the benefits of deep reading go way beyond just the emotional around the the art tal talks about some pretty interesting research on the cognitive benefits of fiction too
Oh Yeah
I remember reading about a study
That showed a connection between reading fiction and a lower risk of cognitive decline
As we age right something like a thirty two percent slower rate of decline in older adults who regularly read novels
It's like a work out for your brain right exactly
And it make sense when you think about it
Reading fiction is impassive
It's active your imagining words connecting with characters figing out plot
Your 're ststtly engaging ing
Your ind yeah
Menmental gym naass yeah
Ah and ararticle engmentions es study from two thousand one
It was publishing the proceeds of the national academy of sciences
And it suggests that reading might even help produced the characteristics of altheimer's disease
Wow
That's amazing now it's important note
This is just one study
And we definitely need more research
Of course of course
But it's a really fascinating area to explore it really is it makes you wonder
If there's something about how fiction engages our brains
That helps build cognitive resilience
That's what it seems like it's not just passively taking in information
It's as actively mamaginconnenecting solving
And it's fun
Exactly
And that's the best part right doesn't have to feel like work work
It's not like getting vegetables you know right and actually you don't even have to be reading super complex literary masterpieces to reap the benefoh really the article brings up a study from the journal reading and writing
And they found that reading fiction
No matter what the genora can improve language skills and verbal abilities
So you're telling me i can indulge in a rashy romance nol l and still be giving my brain a workout
Basically yes
Yeah
Even what some people might call pope fiction
It still had positive effects on people's language scores in this study
That's awesome it takes the pressure off a little bit
Right you can read what you enjoy and your brain will thank you for it
I love that
So we've talked about how reading fiction can potentially slow cognitive decline
Maybe even help with alzheimerers and improve our language skills
But the article goes even further talking about how fiction impacts are eq and well being
So that's where things get even more interesting
That's where things get really fascefits
Okay
I'm all years tell me more about these eq benefits okay
So let's dive into that next
Okay i'm all years tell me more about these eq benefits
So
So the article really dies into
嗯
How reading fiction can actually make us more emotionally intelligent
Really yeah
And it makes sense
When you think about it ok
When we read
We're stepping into the shoes of fictional characters
Right we're experiencing the world through their eyes
We're feeling their etions tions were gravling with their challenges
嗯
And all of that can actually increase our capacity for empathy in real life
That makes sense to meet
Like i've definitely had those moments
Where i'm so engrossed in a good story that i completely forget about myself
And i'm totally feeling
What the character is feeling exactly even if their life is totally different from my yeah
It's like a window into other perspetives in other ways of being
Yeah
And the article highlight tell that expanded perspective can actually lead to more expand and tolerant attitudes
Even is one study that found that participants who read fictional passages about discrimination
But they showa decrease in prejudice views afterwards
Wow
It even mentions a study on harry podtter readers
Oh Cool
And it suggests that exposure to the series ous themes of tolerance and acceptance
You know like we all the different magical creatures and stuff
Yeah
We can actually reduce prejudice in real life
That's amazing
So yousasing that by immercing ourselves in these diverse stories
Right
We can actually broaden our understanding of the world and challenyour own biases exactly is pretty powerful stuff is
It is
And the benefits don't stop there no
They don't
The article also mentions research linking fiction reading to higher levels of happiness
Life satisfaction and feelings of worth
Yeah
It even cited auk survey of fifteen hundred readers
And found that seventy six percent of them felt that reading improve they're being in some way
That's a huge maperorof of
But i'm curiay
I'm sosigsigme up for a lifetime supply of nonoels
But i'm curious
How do we explain this link between reading and happiness
Is it just about escaping into enjoyable stories
Or there's something more going on that's a great question
And i think it's probably accommodation to things escape pe ism definitely plays a role
Like taking a break from our own worries and stresses to yet lost in a capitvating story
That can be incredibly therautic
Yeah
But i think it's also about the emotional engagement
The connections we form with characters
The insights we gain into the human condition
I see what you mean
It's like fiction gives us a safe space to explore whole range of emotion right so sorrow anger love
And maybe by experiencing those emotions in this fictional context
It helps us develop a greater capacity for processing and understanding those emotions in our own life
That's a really insightful way to put it
Oh Thanks
And you know the article even touches on research suggesting that reading fiction can actually have positive effects on our physical health too wait
Really like how so does readreadburn calories now huh well i wouldn't go that far okay
But there's one city published in social science in medicine
And they found it
People who read for at least thirty minutes
Each day they had a percent lower risk of dying over the following decade compared the non readers
Wow Okay
That's a statistic i can get behind so not only conviction make us happier
And might actually help us live longer
The research seems to suggest that i'm starting to think we should be prescribing novels and save medication
Uh maybe not quite that far okay
But it does really highlight how interconnected cted menmental emotional in physical well being really are really does
And there's other really fascinating study from emmy university
It's called short and long term effects of a novel on connectivity in the brain
Okay
Tell me more about that one
So they found that reading a novel actually enenanced connenectivity in certain parts of the brain
And get this those changes persisted even after the participants had finished the book
Oh Wow
That's so cool
So it's not just about the immediate experience of reading
It's actually having a lasting impact on how our brains perununction and and rereally wiring our neural circuitthrough the power of a story
Telling it's incredible
Really
Really
It is
And speaking rewiring our brains
The article also talks about how fiction can boost our capacity for alterism and generosity
Really
So you're telling me that reading novels can actually make us nicer
People that's what the research suggest tell me more about that
Well
There was research polish in the journal psychology of aesthetics
Creativity in the arts
And they found that people who frequently read fiction were more likely to engage in pro social behaviors
Like why things like helping others in need or volunteer their time that's increveble
It makes me wonder like if the empathy we developed through engaging with fictional characters
If that somehow stlls over into our real life interactions making us more tune to the needs and feelings of others
That's a really interesting idea and the positive effects extend to our social perceptions
As well Oh
Okay
A study publishin basic and social psychology suggest
That reading fiction about diverse cultures and ethnic groups can actually reduce racial bias and stereotyping
Wow Okay
Now that's what i call impact for it's like reading becomes a tool for dismantling prejudice and building bridges of understanding between people
Well
It's powerful
It is in the article wraps up of a really interesting point about the value of fiction for leaders in particular
Oh Okay
It argues that these skills we home through reading novels
Empathy understanding of human motivations
The ability to see multiple perspectives
Those are essential qualities for effective leadership
Um that's an interesting thought
I can esfinitely see how being able to step into the shoes of others would be so crucial for leading effectively right
But do you really think reading fiction is like a prererequit for good leadership
Well
I wouldn't say a pre requisship
But i do think you can be a really powerful tool for developing those essential leadership qualities think about it
Great leaders are often those who can connect with people on a deeper level
And understand their motivations and navigate complex situations with sentitivity and awareness
And those are all skills that we can cultivate through the immersive experience
Readreadreadfiction you 're
It's like a training ground for developing those almost inteintelligence muscles that are so crucial for leadership
Exactly
But before we go crowning fiction the ultimate leadership
Gerw
Let's take a step back
And just consider all the ground we've coveyeyeah so feels like we've uncovered a whole treasure trove of benefits we really have fi know right
It really is remarkable
How many benefits we've uncovered
That are link to reading fiction
It's like from boosting brain power to increasing empathy to maybe even living longer
Yeah
So like we found this secrecreweweapon for self improvement
I know
But
But think one of the key takekeways here
And maybe this is the most important one is the importance of that deep breeding experience the kind
We were talking about earlier
Yeah
You know in this world
Where there's just so much going on
And our attention is pulled in a million different directions
Taking the time to really focus on a good book
To get lost in a story
It seems more important than ever absolutely
And it's like you're giving your brain a break from all of that stimulation right allowing yourself to really be present with the story connect the characters's ideas in a deeper way
You know it almost sounds like mindfulness in a
Yeah
I think there's a definite parallel l like with both deep reading and mindfulness
You're cultivating a state of focus attention being present in the moment right and eting all of that mental chatter that can often distract us from fully experiencing what's right in front of us so tuning up the noise
Tuning into the story
Exactly so maybe instead of you know reaching for our phones
Every time we have a few minutes of downtime
Maybe we should be reaching for a novel
Instead
What do you think i'd get a fantastic ideidea
Ah could swapping out some of that mindless scrolling for some mindful reading could that be like a simple yet powerful step toward and handit are well being
I think it definitely could
And you know beyond all of the individual benefits that we've been talking about
Yeah
There's also this broader societal implication here
Oh
Like if reading fiction can actually foster empathy tolerance and understanding right
Then maybe you can also play a role and creating more compassionate and connected world
That's a beautiful thought
Really is like we're not just enraching our own lives through reading ing
We're also contributing to a more harmonmonious collective experience
Exactly
And i think that brings us back to the core power of stories
Their ability to connect us
To help us see the world through rerenzze to remind us of our shared humanity
I love that it's like each novel we read
Becomes a bridge to a new perspective
A new understanding
A new way of being in the world
That's a beautiful way to put it
And you know as we wrap up this deep dive on reading fiction
I'm curious is there a particular fiction book that has really stayed with you long after you finished reading it a story that shifted your perspective or expanded your understanding of the world
Some way you know that's a great question
And there are so many books that have really impacted me over the years
But one that immediately comes to mind is well
I don't want spoil it for a listeners
You know case they haven't read it true
But will say say this it opopen eyes to a different culture
A different way of life
And it helped me to see the world through a lens of greater compassion and understanding
I think we all have those books that live in a deliable mark on us
You know
Yeah
Storthat resonate deeply and continued to shape our thinking long after we've turned that final page um and perhaps that's the most powerful take away from all this
This reminder the fiction is not just a form of entertainment
Yeah
It's a potent force for personal growth
For social change
For human connection
Beautifully said so to are listeners out there
We encourage you to embrace the power affiction
Pick up a novevelose yourself in a story
And to see what new worlds and insighare waiting photo
Yeah
You might just be surprised by the transformative journey that unfolds
So until next time dive deep happy reading everyone
